One hundred thousand soldiers, led by Crown Prince Richard Aiwood, marched southeast from the royal capital to subdue Marquis Eiger, leader of the rebel army.
According to reports from scouts dispatched in advance, nobles loyal to the queen dowager's faction had already assembled in Marquis Eiger's domain. His forces reportedly exceeded fifty thousand.
"I heard from one of the knights earlier... It seems Marquis Eiger has no intention of locking himself in a fortress. He's set up camp in a basin on the side of his domain nearest the royal capital and is taking a position to meet us head-on."
During the march toward enemy territory.
Even though Rest hadn't asked, "she" volunteered the information.
"In principle, the side with fewer numbers should hole up in a fortress — that would be the correct play. But... did you know? A siege only works when there's hope of reinforcements. A siege with no prospect of relief simply delays the inevitable defeat; there's absolutely no chance of winning. Marquis Eiger seems to understand that much."
"...I see."
"On open ground, the royal army with its greater numbers would have the advantage... but they've already fortified their position, and we'd be the ones charging into enemy territory. When you consider that their soldiers are still growing in number and they hold the terrain advantage... it would be unwise to write this off as a war we're guaranteed to win."
"...Right. Yeah, I get that. But... I have one question, if you don't mind?"
"What is it? If it's something I know, I'll answer anything at all."
"Why are you here... Yuri?"
Rest Clover was marching on a horse he wasn't particularly used to riding.
Riding up alongside him and chatting away as casually as could be was Yuri Cattleya.
His classmate at the academy, and the real daughter of Marquis Cattleya — the knight commander.
"I had my suspicions, but... did you follow us? Please tell me you didn't come without telling Viola and Primula."
"No need to worry. I left them a proper note. 'Going off to claim the enemy commander's head real quick.'"
"...If anything, wouldn't that worry them even more?"
After the academy had closed, Yuri had been staying at House Rosemary's townhouse... and Rest could practically see the worried expressions on their faces.
"Besides, 'claiming the enemy commander's head'... Does that mean you intend to join the war?"
"Oh, of course. That's exactly why I'm here."
Yuri puffed out her chest as if to say "what else would you expect?"
Her ample chest was prominently emphasized beneath her lightweight female armor.
"We're at the academy learning swordsmanship and magic so that we can face the kingdom's crises, right? Today, right now — isn't this exactly *that* moment? How can you just pack away the body and skills you've worked so hard to hone?"
"Well... I suppose there's some logic to that."
"Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm not blaming everyone who didn't come to the battlefield. People have roles and fights that suit their birth and station. For instance... Viola and Primula staying behind to protect your home — that's their own kind of fight. Thinking 'I'm on the battlefield, so I'm better than them' — that's nonsense."
"So you're saying... coming here is your fight, Yuri..."
"That's right. I have no title, no position, nothing to protect or uphold. So isn't this exactly the kind of time I should throw everything on the line and fight?"
"............"
Rest searched his mind for an argument to send Yuri back to the royal capital... but unfortunately, no such convenient words existed within that skull of his.
Yuri Cattleya operated on a completely different line of reasoning than Rest or the Rosemary sisters.
No matter what Rest said, once she had made up her mind, she would not bend.
"Um... excuse me, if I may?"
Diebl, who was standing nearby, raised his hand to speak for Rest, who had fallen completely silent.
"The deputy commander of the royal army should be Marquis Cattleya, the knight commander. Would it not be... acceptable, were you to come face to face with your father?"
"Oh...!"
Rest let out a quiet exclamation.
Come to think of it... Yuri had fought with her father, and that was why she had run away from home to attend the academy.
If he brought up her father's name, perhaps he could convince her to leave after all.
(*As expected of Teacher Diebl... he sees things from an entirely different angle!*) "Hmm… You're right. Her father is in this army."
Yuri's face tightened ever so slightly—but in the next instant, her expression brightened like the sun breaking through clouds.
"Well, that's that. If we run into each other, I'll just accept it and move on!"
"Y-You can just give up that easily…?"
"Um… Didn't you say you weren't participating in the Magic Hunt Festival because your father was coming?"
Diebl's face twisted, and Rest raised an objection as well.
Yuri was rather—no, *extremely* simple-minded, and she had not participated in the Magic Hunt Festival.
She had told them it was because her father was attending as an honored guest, and she didn't want to cross paths with him.
"Listen… I hate broccoli."
"Huh?"
"Primula scolded me when I came to the Rosemary estate, saying it's not good to be a picky eater. Thanks to making me practice eating it over and over, I eventually learned to stomach broccoli."
"…………"
Picky eating is not good.
So now that she could eat broccoli, she was saying she had to overcome her dislike of her father in the same way?
"Are broccoli and your father really on the same level of problem…?"
"Don't worry about it. I'll act on my own as a volunteer soldier. I won't cause any trouble for House Rosemary, so please don't fret over it."
"…Wouldn't it actually put us more at ease if you stayed where we could keep an eye on you?"
"On the battlefield, I'll move freely. If I manage to take down an enemy general, maybe I'll earn a decoration just like Rest!"
"…………"
"Oh! If that happens, wouldn't it resolve my conflict with my father too? If I establish my own house and become independent, I'll have no more ties to him. Yeah!"
"...Do whatever you want."
Since nothing he said would make a difference, he decided to just let Yuri have his way.
"Please, at least value your life... If you die, Viola and Primula will be heartbroken..."
"Hm? Won't Rest be sad too if I die?"
"Of course, I will be... You're a precious friend."
"I see... Yeah, that's right!"
Yuri's face broke into a friendly, dopey grin, like a big lovable dog.
"Then I'll do my best to survive! Let's make it a competition to see who earns more glory!"
"..."
Do whatever you want.
Rest muttered those words in his heart once more.